KANYE WEST AND JAY Z CONFIRM FIRST DATES OF EUROPEAN ‘WATCH THE THRONE’ TOUR

AWARDED GRAMMY FOR ‘BEST RAP PERFORMANCE’ FOR ‘OTIS’

“It’s rare that a show of this magnitude lives up to its hype, but Kanye and JAY Z actually managed to exceed it. From the Tron-inspired laser show to the hydraulic-powered stages at either end of the ACC to the pyrotechnics, it was a visual masterpiece. And then, of course, there was the music.” -National Post

Tuesday 21st February 2012– After the phenomenal success of their chart topping album WATCH THE THRONE, a 35 date sold out, critically acclaimed North American tour and hot on the heels of their huge success at the 2012 Grammy Awards, winning the award for ‘Best Rap Performance’ (for their track ‘Otis’), superstars Kanye West and JAY Z’s collaboration ‘The Throne’ have today announced that they will be bringing the WATCH THE THRONE tour to Europe in 2012. The European leg will visit arenas in the UK, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany and Ireland. JAY Z and Kanye West WATCH THE THRONE tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday 24th February priced at £60.00/£49.50/£39.50 London and £55.00/£47.50 Regional (subject to booking fee) and will be available from http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/jay-z-and-kanye-west-watch-the-throne-tickets?c=pr_ext_watchthethrone_150212

For this project, music icons and pop culture visionaries JAY Z and Kanye West joined their extraordinary talents to form the group ‘THE THRONE’ and released the most anticipated album event of 2011, WATCH THE THRONE. On Monday, August 8th last year, THE THRONE’S extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime, Platinum selling Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam Recordings / Roc Nation album collaboration, WATCH THE THRONE, debuted at number 1 and has garnered several Grammy nominations.

The longtime friends and music innovators inspired each other to new heights with their collaboration on WATCH THE THRONE recorded in person at various locations around the world. Over a year in the making and a truly global affair, the duo recorded in London and Bath in the UK, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Paris, and New York City. The album features production from The RZA, The Neptunes and Kanye’s longtime collaborator Mike Dean. The short list of featured vocals includes Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Curtis Mayfield and Mr. Hudson. The lead track, “OTIS,” brilliantly weaves Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.”

The production is classic Kanye West soul, with the two MCs trading couplets over a sample manipulated the way only West can. “Sounds so soulful, don’t you agree?” intones JAY Z, and the two launch into a treatise on swagger, claiming their rightful place at the top. Since the track’s release, the flood of praise for the track has been nothing short of deafening. Entertainment Weekly declares the track “the most well-executed rap song of the year.” “Otis” can be streamed at watchthethrone.com/otis.

Both JAY Z and Kanye West have each appeared as guests on the other’s stage, and now they come together for never-before-seen performances not only from their collaboration, WATCH THE THRONE but also songs from their classic catalogue.

“This show demonstrated how much can be accomplished with a few small decisions: as on the album, JAY Z and Mr. West worked smart, not big.” “The collaboration isn’t merely a power-sharing arrangement or a union of equals but an application to be rap’s greatest duo.” – New York Times

“It’s a wonder to behold — and a throne well worth watching.” – LA Times